Diagnosis

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Diagnosis blood_taking.jpg

As there are no signs or symptoms of dyslipidaemia, except for perhaps obesity as a marker of high lipid levels, we need to complete a quantitative test to obtain a measure of blood lipids. This protocol is known as a blood test, or complete blood lipid profile. The procedure involves a 12 hour fasting followed by a forearm blood sample being taken. This allows for measure of
  • Triglyceride Levels
  • Total Cholesterol Levels
  • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and
  • Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels

The recommended levels of each of the above are listed below, along with abnormal levels for each marker. Pathology reports for blood tests done in Australia commonly report lipid values in mmol/L, whereas the scientific literature and American lipid management guidelines commonly present results in unit of mg/dL.

Triglyceride
(mg/dL)
 Classification
 Triglyceride
(mmol/L)
<150
 Normal
 <1.6
150 to 199
 Borderline High
 1.6 - 2.2
200 to 499
 High
 2.2 - 5.6
≥500
 Very High
 ≥ 5.6
Total Cholesterol
(mg/dL)
 Classification
 Total Cholesterol
(mmol/L)
<200
 Desirable
 <5.0
200 to 239
 Borderline High
 5.0 - 6.2
≥240
 High
 ≥6.2
HDL Cholesterol
(mg/dL)
 Classification
 HDL Cholesterol
(mmol/L)
<40
 Low
 ≤1.0
≥60
 High
 ≥1.6
LDL Cholesterol
(mg/dL)
 Classification
 LDL Cholesterol
(mmol/L)
<100
 Optimal
 <2.5
100 to 129
 Near Optimal
 2.5 - 3.4
130 to 159
 Borderline High
 3.4 - 4.1
160 to 189
 High
 4.1 - 4.8
≥190
 Very High
 ≥4.8
[1] [2]


If the values of a blood test fall outside the optimal or normal ranges, action should be taken to return these values to normal. Exercise Prescription can be an effective treatment for altering the blood lipid profile.

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  1. ^ National Heart Lung Blood Institute 2001, Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on the Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults., National Heart Lung Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Washington, DC.
  2. ^ Leon, A.S. & Sanchez, O.A. 2001, "Response of blood lipids to exercise training alone or combined with dietary intervention", Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 33, no. 6, pp. s502-s515.